Hallmark
The Way Home Recap Season 4 Episode 5 – Where in the World Is Tessa?
The Way Home Season 5 took Kat and Nick to the 1920s—and without fail, they ended up in jail… again.
Though this time, it was kind of worth it and worked in their favor, as Kane eventually released them so that they could help Fern and help him take down Grayson Goodwin.
He seems to be the only other person who sees through the Goodwin charm, mostly because he’s got the hots for Fern, who is definitely aware that she’s in danger, especially as the Auggie boys, who previously struck up a friendship with Nick, realize that he double-crossed them, nearly costing him his trip back home via pond.
It was a tense moment, as it wasn’t immediately clear if Nick would be trapped in the 1920s indefinitely when Kat was pushed into the pond before he could get there, but the pond doesn’t make mistakes, and he arrived safely back home after getting to experience time traveling for himself.
And what a ride it was. It’s fun to see someone else experience the rollercoaster that is time travel. Kat and Alice have become kind of immune to the charms, often not realizing the great gift that they’ve been given.
Nick reminded Kat of that, even though his reckless attitude was a little infuriating at first.
He seemed not to understand that time traveling wasn’t a game and came with its fair share of danger; however, it was also necessary to get them the answers they were seeking.
He was necessary to accomplish what Kat couldn’t, as his passive approach got them in with the Auggie boys, as they bonded over sailor things and drinks.
Kat almost takes it too seriously sometimes, as she’s on a mission to find out the truth about Tessa, and as Fern pointed out, she sometimes doesn’t ask the right questions.
Nick eventually learned the location of their hideout, where they make rum and work for their boss, “The Big Fish,” while Kat managed to get some facetime with Grayson, where she learned that he knows all about Auntie Coop—who is also on the Auggie boys’ radar.
Everything with Grayson is rather ominous, but I’m not sure if that’s because he’s actually dangerous or because the show wants us to believe he is. He didn’t seem to hate Auntie Coop and seems to truly love Fern.
Is he calling all the shots for real? Or is there someone else in charge? Someone like Tessa, perhaps? I think Kat may have gotten it wrong, though someone does want her gone.
Kat’s meeting with Grayson revealed other tidbits of information—pieces of a puzzle that will hopefully fall into place one day to reveal the larger picture—like the fact that Fern also had a brother who was killed in combat and whose body was never recovered, leading me to believe that he also may have found his way into the pond, just like Jacob.
Then her mother died young and her father succumbed to the Spanish flu, meaning Fern has a lot in common with Kat and Del, as she’s endured her fair share of loss and suffering as well.
The episode confirms Del suffered a miscarriage, which Alice experiences firsthand in the ’70s, allowing her to better understand her grandmother.
I do hope that we’ll get some explanation as to the fallout between Del and Evelyn, as in the ’70s, they all seem friendly and cozy, so it’s unclear what happened to the friendship after Kat was born. Why did she lock herself in Lingermore?
Will there be enough time in the season to explore it?
Anywho, once Kat finally locates Fern, she gets the confirmation she’s been seeking this whole time—she does know Tessa, and she has all her life.
While she doesn’t know when she’ll be back, she explains that every single time she’s come by, she has asked if anyone from the pond came looking for her.
This means Tessa is still alive in 1925, but where is she when she’s not there? What is all the traveling she’s doing? If she can’t jump into the pond alone, does this mean she’s with Griffin all the time?
She’s also clearly in deep with the Auggie boys, so my guess is she had some hand in the illegal alcohol distribution, maybe even way more than we could’ve ever imagined. And let’s not forget that something happened in the mines under Lingermore that we still haven’t dug into. Was Griffin the one shot at the mines?
Meanwhile, Elliot and Alice travel to the 1970s, where he gets to see his mother before she became a mom.
He doesn’t have any memories of her, but seeing her in this young and carefree moment, dressed up as the white witch and playing with Evelyn’s son, shows him what his childhood could’ve looked like, even if Tessa wasn’t exactly convinced that she wanted a child of her own.
There was a questionable moment during which Tessa stole Evelyn’s tarot cards, and just like when she stole the money at Coyle’s, it doesn’t come with an explanation and is largely dismissed by the events that follow. I’m wondering if maybe she’s just got a stealing problem, which got her into trouble in the 1920s?
And then there’s the incredible moment where Elliott meets a version of his dad that he’s always hoped for—another glimpse into what could’ve been if it hadn’t been for Tessa’s one fateful decision that changed the outcome of his entire life.
It’s a beautiful yet painful moment for Elliott, as he harbors the pain of knowing how everything turns out instead, while talking with a man who is so hopeful about the future.
At least he knows that the right intentions were always there. It’s such a gift to be able to see this, even if it is an extremely brutal realization. And his father doesn’t even know he’s talking to the man who bears those scars.
Time travel is such a gift and a curse.
In the present, Del’s horse incident results in a concussion that keeps pulling her between the past and the present.
She keeps slipping back into the memory state to be with Colton and a young Jacob, but the harder she tries to hold on and chase what once was, the more dangerous it becomes.
Eventually, she realizes she has to live in the present, as Jacob finally decides to come home and be with everyone. Del finally got her baby back, slightly different than the memory she holds of him, but it forces her to prioritize the present versus the past for the first time in a while. She needs to nurture what she has left and value the ones around her.
Del’s family may have been largely away, dealing with pond business, but she had two gentlemen eager to take care of her. She realized that while she may have felt butterflies with Julian, it wasn’t a reality for her, and shot his advances down, while the verdict is still out for her romance with Sam.
Admittedly, I feel like a little too much time was spent on Del throughout this episode when there are still so many lingering questions that remain unanswered. I know her relationship with Colton is the emotional depth and anchor for the series, but it isn’t providing anything new for us—and with a final season, well, I feel like we’ve worked through this already. It’s hard to imagine Del letting go and moving on, but if we can’t change what happened in the past via time travel, she needs to prioritize the now, for her own sanity.
It also feels like the series just doesn’t know what to do with Jacob’s storyline, so they sidelined him, but I feel like there’s so much to explore about his past and his future.
There are plenty of lingering questions that exist in the present, including Claire and Sam’s identity.
After Nick’s rollercoaster experience as a time-traveling hitchhiker, he tells Kat that he’s closed on his house, so will we finally meet his future wife? Have we already met her? And are we right to be super suspicious of her?
There also hasn’t been much momentum on KC and Sam, though we know they are connected. Sam seems to be around a lot more, which is great, but it goes against my theory that he’s also from the future. But then, who is he? And why does he know about the pond?
And will we have enough time to dig into these storylines properly and wrap up the loose ends? I’m afraid that the conclusions won’t be satisfying/rushed. I’m hoping this is all setting up the foundation to easily connect all the dots later for that true aha moment that leaves us content and feeling the magic of the first pond jump.
I didn’t have high expectations going into A Knight to Remember, and honestly, a big part of that came down to the promotional poster. It didn’t capture the charm you expect from a Hallmark movie, and it certainly didn’t do Julie Gonzalo and James Trevena any favors with those blank stares.
A statue of an English knight arrives in Chicago for an art exhibit. While cleaning the statue, museum conservator Emily impulsively kisses the statue, bringing him to life. Photo: James Trevena, Julie Gonzalo Credit: ©2026 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Allister Foster
Still, I gave it a shot. It’s set in my hometown, Chicago, so I felt like I had to support it; plus, I’m a sucker for a predictable, cheesy love story. Much to my surprise, I ended up genuinely enjoying it and liking it way more than I thought I would. It’s easy to be critical of these movies because, yes, they’re into all the Hallmark staples—with plenty of pumpkin spice latte references to emphasize that this is a fall film—but there’s also real heart and some solid comedic moments.
I wasn’t fully convinced by the premise of a medieval knight who’s turned to stone and accidentally comes back to life to find true love. But as I started my watch, my mind raced to remember where I saw a knight-turned-real-boy storyline before, eventually landing on one of the more enjoyable Christmas films of years prior— Vanessa Hudgens The Knight Before Christmas. Turns out, there is something captivating and heartwarming about time-traveling knights (with great manners and a big flirting game) finding their place in the modern world.
As for the plot, there was plenty to work with, starting in 1428, when marrying for love wasn’t the norm; Sir Griffin already knew he didn’t want the life laid out for him. Maybe he was more of a modern man than he ever even knew.
In fact, he’d rather be turned to stone than marry Princess Beatrice, which, frankly, says a lot. I do wish we got more of his past, or even a glimpse of Beatrice, but alas, the story fully focused on Griffin’s present-day adventures, navigating a world that was so deeply unfamiliar to his time.
As Griffin’s wish was granted centuries later, he woke up after Emily planted a kiss on his stone lips. And yes, I did spend a few minutes wondering why she committed to fully kissing a stone figure with such passion, but I guess we’re just rolling with it. Love (or loneliness) makes you do crazy things!
As the stone pieces keeping him trapped break away, Griffin is freed. And he’s been preserved in all his glory, apparently, without any bad breath! (I know, these are the things you just accept when diving into these rom-coms, but I couldn’t shake it.)
He navigates this big, new world with wide-eyed wonder.
The biggest thing to throw him off? Cars… or rather, rideshares.
From here on out, I will be referring to my shower as “indoor rain” because that’s much more logical. Thanks, Griffin.
Memory foam beds (“sleeping on clouds”) and bagels—all become part of his journey, as does a pumpkin spice latte, and it’s charming to see him enjoy one for the first time ever.
Meanwhile, Emily is dealing—very casually, I might add—with the whole “a statue went missing” fiasco at the museum.
“What, did it just get legs and walk away?” my mother would ask… And, well…
Personally, I would not be that calm, but she clearly doesn’t have the same debilitating anxiety that I do anytime my boss pings me asking if I have a minute to chat.
And she’s far more focused on helping Griffin complete his quest before he turns back to stone again, a fate he’d, understandably, like to avoid if at all possible.
Part of that mission involves Emily convincing herself and everyone around her that she’s not into him, despite being totally into him.
And there’s the aptly-timed Medieval Fayre hosted by her good friend Marcus, who was totally crushing on her work BFF, Ivy. Griffin picked up on it in mere seconds, but sadly, we never got to see anything pan out between them, which is a missed opportunity. There was no payoff to all those moments teasing the connection between Ivy and Marcus. Couldn’t we get a little kiss on the cheek during one of the fair moments?
There’s also Emily’s ex, Tom, who complicates everything.
He’s leading the investigation into the missing statue, clearly motivated by career ambition (which tells us all we need to know about what kind of husband he was), along with a smidge of little jealousy that Emily has a hunky new dude around.
A statue of an English knight arrives in Chicago for an art exhibit. While cleaning the statue, museum conservator Emily impulsively kisses the statue, bringing him to life. Photo: James Trevena, Julie Gonzalo Credit: ©2026 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Luka Cyprian
To be fair, his suspicion that Griffin could be a con artist isn’t entirely unreasonable given the armour with the residue matching the one found at the museum. But it’s the way he undermines Emily in the process, suggesting she’s so gullible, that makes it so extremely easy to root against him. When he tries to rekindle their relationship, playing the “I miss you” and “you were the best thing to happen to me” card, she shuts it down quickly—and rightfully so.
In the end, Tom gets what’s coming to him when his conflict of interest is exposed, as well as the fact that he broke into an apartment to obtain evidence.
He really thought he did something…
It’s a satisfying moment, just as it was to see Emily tell Tom the entire truth about Griffin, only for him to dismiss it as a joke. I wouldn’t have minded seeing Tom fully realize just how wrong he was about Griffin, and that he just lost the love of his life to a piece of stone!
The core of the story revolves around Griffin’s fate, as Emily has just three days to fall in love with him or he’ll turn to stone forever.
The catch is that her feelings have to be real, as Griffin refuses to tell Emily what’s at stake so that she doesn’t feel manipulated or forced into loving him.
No pressure or anything!
The deadline looms, but Emily continues to struggle to admit how she feels, her past with Tom clearly leaving its mark.
Even as Griffin’s fingers begin to turn gray, Emily can’t get the words out, which is frustrating.
Of course, this is Hallmark, so things work out. Emily realizes her life has been split into “before Griffin” and “after Griffin,” and she can’t imagine a life without him. The clarity helps her finally embrace her feelings, and it’s sealed with a kiss.
Griffin stays in the modern world to permanently enjoy the perks of indoor plumbing, and the two move forward together, bringing their story to life as part of the museum’s exhibit, which is such a hit that they’re embarking on a world tour.
It’s a happy ending, as expected—even if Emily had us in the first half.
As for the standout quote from the film, the award goes to Griffin, as he reflects on the world that no longer exists: “I do not ache for lost love, I ache for lost life.”
Slightly cheesy? Sure! But also surprisingly meaningful.
Did you enjoy A Knight to Remember as much as I did? What stood out most to you? Share your thoughts!
Hallmark
Julie Gonzalo Stars in Hallmark’s ‘A Knight to Remember’ — Everything We Know About the New Fall Fantasy Romance Movie
Hallmark is leaning into fantasy romance this fall with A Knight to Remember, a new original movie part of the “Fall Into Love” programming, starring fan-favorite Julie Gonzalo, and it’s already shaping up to be one viewers won’t want to miss.
Here’s everything to know about the upcoming film, from its cast to its story and when it premieres.
When Does A Knight to Remember Premiere?
A Knight to Remember is set to debut Oct. 3 as part of Hallmark’s seasonal lineup at 8/7c.
The movie arrives at the perfect time, slotted in during the network’s popular fall programming block, blending romance, cozy settings and light escapism ahead of the holiday season.
It will be available to stream on-demand on Hallmark+ the day after its television premiere.
Who Stars in A Knight to Remember?
The film stars Julie Gonzalo, a Hallmark regular known for her warm, relatable performances, along with James Trevena as the knight. Chris McNally, who also happens to be her real-life partner, also appears. The duo met in 2017 while filming the Hallmark movie The Sweetest Heart, beginning a romantic relationship shortly after.
Where Have We Seen Julie Gonzalo Before?
Gonzalo has been a familiar face to audiences for years, with roles in major films like A Cinderella Story (opposite Chad Michael Murray and Hilary Duff) and TV series including Dallas, Veronica Mars and Supergirl, in addition to her Hallmark work!
Does Julia Gonzalo Have Children?
Off-screen, she shares two children (daughters born in 2022 and 2026) with McNally, adding an extra layer of real-life chemistry to their on-screen pairing.
What Is A Knight to Remember About?
Per the description, A Knight to Remember centers on “a museum conservator named Emily,” who “cleans an imported English knight statue and impulsively kisses it, which magically brings the knight to life in modern-day Chicago.” The synopsis continues: “As Emily helps the chivalrous time-traveler navigate modern Chicago, pumpkin spice lattes, a Halloween Medieval Fayre, and an FBI investigation led by her ex-husband, she begins to rediscover the wonder and romance she thought she had left behind.”
Is A Knight to Remember Based on a Book?
Yes, the film is adapted from Bryn Donovan’s novel, Her Knight at the Museum, so if you enjoy the movie, you can dive into the book shortly after to keep the good times rolling.
A Knight to Remember Preview
Hallmark
Hallmark Unveils 2026 Countdown to Christmas Schedule—Including the Premiere Date for ‘Mistletoe Murders’ Season 3
So what that we haven’t even properly welcomed the fall season, and Christmas is 99 days away?
Hallmark is ready to kick off the holidays, revealing the highly anticipated 17th annual Countdown to Christmas schedule for 2026.
And it’s jam-packed with cozy and cuddly titles — 34 original premieres to be exact, which is 10 more than last year. What a holiday gift!
Yes, it includes Holiday Touchdown, bringing a touch of Hallmark magic to Chicago Bears fans, and a new season of Mistletoe Murders, arriving on Nov. 5, just in time to help us get our holiday sleuthing on.
Emily and Sam work to prove the wreathmaker’s innocence. Emily tries to remain unattached in the present while reflecting on the mistakes of her past and the obligations of her future. Photo: Peter Mooney, Sarah Drew Credit: ©2026 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Peter Stranks
The programming kicks off in exactly a month, on Oct. 16, and runs through Dec 20!
There will also be in-person experiences that bring the on-screen magic to a city near you as part of the three-city Jingle Stop Tour in Chicago, the location for Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story; Orlando, where Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True was filmed; and Asheville, NC, home of the famed Biltmore Estate and the set of A Grand Biltmore Christmas.
As for the new films, they star all of the familiar faces you’ve come to love at Hallmark, including Lori Loughlin’s comeback, Nikki DeLoach, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Andrew Walker, Italia Ricci, Jessy Schram and, of course, Lacey Chabert!
Be there for every mistletoe moment—for grand romance and fairytale endings!
Here’s the entire 2026 Hallmark Countdown to Christmas Schedule
- Friday, October 16 — ‘Tis the Season for Setups (Amanda Schull, Victor Webster, Barbara Niven)
- Saturday, October 17 — Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story (Lyndsy Fonseca, Robert Buckley, Marsha Mason, Barbara Alyn Woods, Khary Payton)
- Sunday, October 18 — Mr. & Mrs. Christmas (Brendan Penny, Pascale Hutton)
- Friday, October 23 — Winter Wonderlanes (Ashley Newbrough, Franco Lo Presti)
- Saturday, October 24 — Forgotten Holiday (Janel Parrish, Daniel Lissing)
- Sunday, October 25 — What If Christmas (Lori Loughlin, Tom Cavanagh)
- Friday, October 30 — Who’s Coming for Christmas? (Rhiannon Fish, Jake Foy, Mila Morgan)
- Saturday, October 31 — Adopting St. Nick (Amy Groening, Michael Rady)
- Sunday, November 1 — A Danish Christmas (Emilie Ullerup, Corey Sevier)
- Thursday, November 5 — Mistletoe Murders Season 3 (Sarah Drew, Peter Mooney, Sierra Marilyn Riley)
- Friday, November 6 — Merry Memories (Lindura, Brendan Morgan)
- Saturday, November 7 — Holiday Unplugged (Nikki DeLoach, Juan Pablo Di Pace)
- Sunday, November 8 — A Season of Promises (Brooke D’Orsay, Ali Liebert, James Denton)
- Friday, November 13 — My Christmas Cowboy (Amy Acker, Luke Macfarlane, Sara Canning)
- Saturday, November 14 — The Nights Before Christmas (Tyler Hynes, Laci J Mailey)
- Sunday, November 15 — Mistletoe and Mimosas (Tamera Mowry-Housley, Kristoffer Polaha, Jennifer Robertson)
- Friday, November 20 — Our Holiday Playbook (Taylor Cole, Charles Michael Davis)
- Saturday, November 21 — Christmas in Blue Dog Valley (Erin Cahill, Andrew Walker)
- Sunday, November 22 — Double Booked for the Holidays (Rachael Leigh Cook, Owain Yeoman, Stephen Hagan)
- Thursday, November 26 — Christmas Delivered (Autumn Reeser, Wes Brown, Linda Darlow)
- Friday, November 27, 6 p.m. — The Christmas Eve Feast (Daniella Monet, Kevin McGarry, executive produced by Giada De Laurentiis)
- Friday, November 27, 8 p.m. — Return to Santa (Paul Campbell, Rachel Boston)
- Saturday, November 28, 6 p.m. — The Most Wonderful Secret (Tammin Sursok, Peter Porte)
- Saturday, November 28, 8 p.m. — Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True (Lacey Chabert, Travis Van Winkle, Richard Kind, Christy Carlson Romano, Bryce Durfee, Asher Alexander, Taegen Burns)
- Sunday, November 29, 6 p.m. — Eight Nights for Love (Hunter King, Dan Jeannotte)
- Sunday, November 29, 8 p.m. — Miles to Christmas (Ashley Williams, Steve Lund, Alison Sweeney)
- Friday, December 4 — The Snowflake Effect (Heather Hemmens, Mark Ghanimé)
- Saturday, December 5 — A Grand Biltmore Christmas (Holland Roden, Niall Matter, Andie MacDowell, James Trevena, Jonathan Frakes, Rachel Boston, Wes Brown)
- Saturday, December 5, 10 p.m. — The Hallmark Christmas Experience: A Hometown Holiday, a special hosted by Jonathan Bennett and Melissa Peterman
- Sunday, December 6 — An Angel in My Stocking (Fiona Gubelmann, Marco Grazzini, Nancy Robertson)
- Friday, December 11 — Christmas in Canterbury (Jessy Schram, Will Kemp)
- Saturday, December 12 — Snow Globe Town (Kimberley Sustad, Scott Michael Foster)
- Sunday, December 13 — Noelle Nomads (Benjamin Ayres, Torrey DeVitto)
- Friday, December 18 — Hearts All Aglow (Mishael Morgan, B.J. Britt, Holly Robinson Peete)
- Saturday, December 19 — Barking All the Way (Ian Harding, Tori Anderson)
- Sunday, December 20 — Save the Date for Christmas (Jonathan Bennett, Italia Ricci)
What movie are you most excited for?
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